Recovering from Depression Using Psychotherapy
Interpersonal and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies Can Aid Recovery.
Jun 8, 2009
Cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy are two mainstream forms of psychotherapy that have been found to assist people to recover from episodes of depression. Both therapies focus on discussion with a trained psychologist or psychiatrist and aim to improve an individual’s understanding of their world.
The History of Interpersonal Therapy
An American psychiatrist, Harry Stack Sullivan, who worked in the psychodynamic field, came up with interpersonal therapy in the late 1950s. Interpersonal therapy is used to treat depression in adult patients; based on the work of Sigmund Freud and his theory that childhood experiences subconsciously affect adult life.
Interpersonal therapy requires that a trained professional works with the patient to analyse problem areas in the patient’s life. The therapy focuses on resolving problems faced by the patient, which may or may not have caused or contributed to the episode of depression currently being experienced by the patient. Interpersonal therapy is relationship-based, looking at how the patient interacts with other people and how the patient can change behaviours in order to improve relationships.
How is Interpersonal Therapy Conducted?
Interpersonal therapy analyses four main areas of the patient’s life, in which there may be problems. These are:
- Unresolved or prolonged grief (for example, from the death of a parent while the patient was young or having unloving or distant parents);
- Role transitions (for example, moving from childhood to adulthood or single to married);
- Interpersonal disputes (relationship problems), and;
- Interpersonal deficits (for example, unsupportive relationships or social isolation).
Interpersonal therapy aims to build the communication and dispute resolution skills of the patient in order to address the behavioural issues that are contributing to the episode of depression.
The History of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
While treating people experiencing depression in the United States in the 1960s, psychiatrist Dr Aaron Beck, noticed that his patients reported conversation-like thoughts about their surroundings and their interactions with other people.
Dr Beck found that these thoughts can be subconscious and that what a person thinks plays a large role in how the person feels emotionally; that is if a person thinks that they are worthless and no one likes them, that person is likely to feel isolated and sad, possibly even depressed. These subconscious thoughts can also influence a person’s behaviour, returning to the no-one likes me example, that person may not approach people or take part in social gatherings, on the basis of the beliefs like "No one likes me, why should I go?"
How Does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Work?
A trained therapist can help a patient understand their own view of the world, while uncovering thinking patterns. However, if a person is unable to access a trained therapist, cognitive behavioural therapy can still be utilized through online resources such as the Moodgym program or self-help books.
There are many common thinking errors that occur and it appears that people experiencing episodes of depression may have more of these errors than people not experiencing depression. Some common thinking errors include all-or-nothing mentality, setting unrealistic expectations, jumping to negative conclusions and personalising.
When thinking patterns have been discovered, the next phase of cognitive behavioural therapy involves addressing the thinking patterns and changing the patterns from a negative view of the world to a balanced view of the world. Cognitive behavioural therapy asks that the patient looks for evidence as to why their thinking error view is correct.
For a person experiencing an episode of depression, talking therapies may help ease some the symptoms. Both Interpersonal and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies are best used with the help of an experienced therapist to assist the patient identify problem life areas and find solutions.
References:
Hinrichsen, Gregory A. "Interpersonal Psychotherapy." Encyclopedia of Aging. Ed. David J. Ekerdt. Vol. 2. NY: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002.
Calhoun, C (ed). Dictionary of the Social Sciences, Oxford University Press, 2002
Ford-Martin, Paula. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” in The Gale Encycolopedia of Medicine Vol 2 3rd ed, Detroit: Gale, 2006.
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